Wildness reclaims the Ennerdale valley

Wildness reclaims the Ennerdale valley

Lying at the northern edge of the Lake District national park in Cumbria, the Ennerdale valley is home to some of the district's most vibrant natural environments and one of the first re-wilding projects in the UK. Landowners the
National Trust,
Forestry Commission and United Utilities formed the
Wild Ennerdale Partnership in 2003 with the aim of allowing the area to evolve naturally, with minimal human intervention. After
2005 storms damaged almost 30,000 trees in the area the partnership pressed ahead with its plans to re-wild, which include allowing forestry tracks to revert to their vegetated state and the river to find its natural path.
Pictures by
Joe Cornish

Monday 8 November 2010 08.48 EST
First published on Monday 8 November 2010 08.48 EST

The Wild Ennerdale project allows nature to shape the landscape and wildlife of the Forest, which lies next to Ennerdale Water in the Lake District

Dew-dropped flowers illustrate the thriving natural environment. The Marsh Fritillary butterfly has experienced a 55 per cent decline in populations in the UK since 1970 but has had three continuous years of stable and increasing populations in the valley

Forest tracks zig-zag across the site which provide for walkers and mountain biking. Some provide dramatic views of Lake District mountains including Great Gable as well as the valleys of Wasdale and Buttermere

Ennerdale was a victim of human intervention including the planting of spruce forests and raising the level of the lake to allow for water extraction. The emergence of growths such as these mushrooms demonstrates that the valley is reverting to its natural state